Locking .dwg files

[Onslaught]

Is there any way to lock .dwg files? I'm sending drawings to furniture consultants and I don't want them to mess with the design, 'coz the design has been finalized already and if the furnitures dont fit chances are they'll want us to re-design the building. I just want them to know that if the furnitures does not fit they have to think or consider other furnitures.

 

Hope this is clear.

[Chad Warner]

I would say dwf, but that won't allow them to place the furniture in the dwg. How about making the drawing a block so that it is more difficult to edit?

 

-Chad

[Onslaught]

I did thought about that, the problem is they can still explode and edit it. If there is a way to make blocks un-explodable that would be great. Any thoughts about this?

[Chad Warner]

From the Help file (I just discovered this myself):

 

Issue

 

You want to insert a block so it is unable to be exploded, making it impossible for users to edit the individual objects in the block.

 

Solution

 

You can use the MINSERT command to make a block that cannot be exploded. The MINSERT command is typically used to insert multiple instances of a block in a rectangular array. Blocks inserted using MINSERT cannot be exploded. The MINSERT command is only available from the command line.

 

Note: Before trying the following procedure, make a copy of the drawing you want to protect.

 

Start a new drawing from scratch.

Enter MINSERT on the command line.

When prompted for the block name, enter the drive letter, the full path, and the name of the drawing you want to protect.

 

Example:

MINSERT Enter block name or [?]: D:\AutoCAD\SAMPLE\campus.dwg

 

 

 

Enter 0,0 for the Insertion point.

Use an X and Y scale factor of 1.

Specify a rotation angle of 0.

When prompted, specify the number of rows and the number of columns to be greater than. If you specify only one row or column, this command is treated as an INSERT command and a user will be able to explode the block.

 

Example:

Enter number of rows (---) : 2

Enter number of columns (|||) : 2

 

 

 

Specify the distance between rows to be 0 units.

 

Example:

Enter distance between rows or specify unit cell (---): 0

 

The block will be inserted into the current drawing. You can erase the inserted block, but you cannot explode it.

 

I just tried this and it works.

 

-Chad

[Onslaught]

I found a way......instead of using the insert command, I used the MINSERT command. Blocks created by the MINSERT command cannot be exploded.

[Onslaught]

I just discovered it too. I just did exactly what you said before I read your post.

 

Thank you.

[trhoads]

That is a very cool technique. We have that problem all the time with interior designers moving walls to make furniture fit. Thank you for sharing that. I am sure it will eliminate problems in the future.

[nuno]

your clients still have the chance to edit "minserted" blocks with REFEDIT command.

perhaps you may prefer cadlock (http://www.cadlock.com/) or something similar.

 

nuno

[Onslaught]

There's another way that they can actually edit the drawings. They only have to re-insert it (not using minsert, just the regular insert). I just hope that they are not that CAD savvy to find out.